This Is Us season 6 episode 9 recap: The Hill

This article contains SPOILERS for This Is Us season 6 episode 9.

Kate takes a trip to the city by the bay to visit and see Toby in his natural element in this week’s episode of This is Us season 6.

Catch up on everything from the last episode here!

In this week’s episode of This Is Us season 6, the focus is all on Kate. Just like last week, audiences see the grand opening of the town pool where young Kate is so nervous to go in, she is squeezing Rebecca’s arm out of fear.

Next, the teenage Big Three are leaving the abandoned pool when they discover they are locked inside. Finally, adult Kate and Toby are leaving the cabin after Thanksgiving.

Kate explains she wants to visit San Francisco with her husband to see if she likes the different city.

This Is Us season 6 episode 9: Kate’s visions of her past

After a montage of Kate being a caring mother, exceptional employee, and patient wife, we see her and Madison having a movie night after their children go to sleep. Kate talks about how she misses old Toby sometimes before his weight loss and career change.

Madison explains that this upcoming getaway they are having by The Bay will be good for them to reconnect. Kate is hopeful but her hope is waning.

This is due to Toby’s changing plans, that are out of his control due to his job. Back at the pool’s opening, Kate is still nervous about going into the water even though her mom is standing in it and encouraging her it’s safe.

When Rebecca goes to check on Kevin, Jack underestimates Kate’s defiance to get in the pool. Teenage Kate and her brothers are wandering around the complex trying to figure out how to leave which Kate recognizes the irony since her life feels stuck and trapped.

This Is Us season 6 episode 9: Visiting the city by the bay

Kate finally arrives in San Francisco and Toby puts on his adorable charm before they are intimate for the first time in a while. Almost immediately after, Toby gets up to take a business call from Tokyo, and Kate is left in the bedroom.

Here she imagines old, bigger Toby rummaging around and mocking new, slimmer Toby. Kate’s vision gets out of hand and she puts an end to it but old Toby says, “Ok, but you’re going to miss me.”

In the morning, Toby wakes up his wife with his favorite coffee from the city before he outlines their entire day. However, Kate prefers an impulsive day with no plans.

Toby begrudgingly agrees. They look to have an amazing day throughout the city, but this comes to a screeching halt when Toby shows Kate a house he is interested in buying.

It turns out Toby has actually done a lot of one-sided work to procure this house which understandably overwhelms and upsets Kate. Young Kate is still fighting to get in the water, primarily her face.

Because of this, Jack has the idea to lay his daughter on her back so she can float in the brand-new pool. The episode jumps up to teenage Kate as she explains how she is unlike her brothers with no life mission or dream career insight.

All teenage Kate sees when she looks to her future is nothing.

This Is Us season 6 episode 9: Kate learns Toby’s secret

After getting ready in the apartment for a dinner at his boss’ house, Toby and Kate are waiting for their rideshare when she asks if they can walk since Toby mentioned his boss lived close by. Toby deflects until he admits the house is all uphill, alluding to the fact they can’t walk there as Kate will struggle.

The two finally arrive and Kate witnesses every one of her husband’s coworkers, including his young rich boss, love Toby and therefore love Kate too. After some mingling, Toby goes off to talk about fantasy basketball while Kate has some hors d’oeuvres.

Toby’s boss comes over to chat with her, explaining how Toby is the most liked person in the office. He is thankful Toby passed on a job in Los Angeles, where his family lives, and plans to stay in San Francisco instead.

Ticked off, Kate takes a moment on the front steps as she imagines old Toby comforting her because of the betrayal she feels by new Toby. When she is ready, she sternly tells her husband that they have to leave right away.

As they are leaving Kate confronts Toby about the offer and he says he applied to it before he received his current job offer as it was a step down for him professionally. Kate does not care since he lied and made a decision that impacted her life and their kids’ lives without conversing with her.

This Is Us season 6 episode 9: The big argument finally comes

When they arrive back at the apartment, the two have a fleshed-out argument. Kate is mad that Toby is trying to uproot their blind son from the environment he is comfortable with and needs in order to function.

Toby is looking at it as they will need money for special care for their son. Eventually, Toby and Kate explain how their new lives have brought them joy and a sense of belonging in the world, except for the fact that their spouse is not involved anymore.

In the morning, Toby agrees he should have talked about the LA job offer but he was blinded by his desire to have a purpose at his job. Toby finishes by saying the logistics he outlined point to them needing to move to San Francisco.

Kate goes for a walk to clear her head and she arrives back at the bottom of the hill Toby’s boss works at the top of. The teenage Big Three find a way out but they have to climb a chain link gate.

Kate tries but fails. At the pool’s grand opening, young Kate maintains her fight to not let go of her dad and go under the water.

Jack gives in saying it’s not her day yet. However, it is adult Kate’s day to let go as she walks up the steep hill in San Francisco.

At the top of the hill, Kate calls Phillip (Christopher Geere) to throw her hat in the ring for a full-time music teacher job in LA.

Who do you think is in the right with their argument, Toby or Kate?  What the heck has Randall been doing at the pool’s grand opening? Let us know your answers and opinions in the comments below!

Stream the new episode of This Is Us season 6 next Tuesday, only on NBC!